Bohn makes herself indispensable at Godfrey & Kahn

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At one point in her career, Janell Bohn was considering whether she’d be happier going to law school rather than continuing to work as a paralegal.

“After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to become the best paralegal I could be instead of a workaholic attorney,” Bohn said.

As her colleagues at Godfrey & Kahn in Milwaukee can attest, Bohn has accomplished her goal.

With nearly 30 years at the firm, she is the most senior corporate paralegal there. John Dickens, a shareholder, said Bohn has “acquired institutional knowledge that is rivaled by none.”

“This knowledge, combined with her thoughtfulness and can-do attitude, has allowed her to earn the trust of all the attorneys she works with,” said Dickens, a member of the firm’s corporate law practice group. “She is often trusted to be involved in certain client issues from intake through full resolution.”

Bohn’s responsibilities include helping with the closings of acquisitions, mergers and financing and reorganization transactions; taking part in due diligence; and maintaining corporate-record books.

“I like puzzles and figuring things out, so when all the parts of a transaction or a highly technical government filing come together, it’s a rewarding feeling,” said Bohn, who holds a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Concordia University.

But this comes with the difficulty of juggling deadlines, especially when several large transactions are taking place at the same time. Communications, flexibility and working well under pressure are important in such situations, Bohn said.

She is also known in the office for her initiative and organizational abilities. She has helped with plans laying out the steps that have to be taken to complete a project, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

Given her experience, Bohn also helps train new paralegals and associate attorneys. She has drawn up a manual of “tips and tricks” of the trade for fellow paralegals and describes herself as a “ready reference/help desk” for corporate attorneys.

Bohn initially planned to be a math teacher or accountant, but she is glad to have chosen the path she is on.